The UK Government has announced that 43 migrants who had no legal right to remain in the country have been returned to Nigeria and Ghana on a charter flight as part of efforts to “restore order” to the immigration system.
The flight, which was organised by the Home Office, included 15 individuals who had their asylum applications rejected, 11 foreign criminals who had completed their prison sentences, and seven individuals who agreed to return voluntarily to their home countries.
This move forms part of the Government’s ongoing strategy to manage immigration and tackle illegal migration. It follows the release of footage in February of migrants being escorted onto planes for deportation, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asserting that immigration rules must be “respected and enforced”.
The Home Office reported that from July 5 last year to March 22 this year, 24,103 people had been returned either voluntarily or through forced deportation, representing an 11% increase compared to the previous year’s figures of 21,807. Additionally, the department confirmed that 3,594 foreign criminals had been deported during the same period, marking a 16% rise from the previous 12-month period.
This charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana is the second one organised under the current Government, bringing the total number of individuals returned to these two countries to 87. The Government has made it clear that they intend to continue these operations as part of their broader immigration reform agenda.
Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle expressed satisfaction with the operation, stating: “This flight demonstrates how international partnerships deliver on working people’s priorities for swift returns and secure borders.”
She continued, “Through the plan for change, we’re going further in restoring order to a broken system, accelerating returns of those with no right to be here and closing expensive asylum hotels.”
Dame Eagle also took the opportunity to thank the Governments of Ghana and Nigeria for their cooperation, stating that the operation reflects a shared commitment to disrupting organised immigration crime and safeguarding UK borders.
The Government’s broader immigration plan includes releasing data on the nationalities of foreign criminals and the offences they have committed by the end of the year. This is part of a push for greater transparency in the handling of foreign national offenders. However, the move has been met with mixed reactions.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the forthcoming release of data, saying that the “public deserved to know this long ago,” as it would help provide clarity on the issue of foreign criminals in the UK. However, human rights group Amnesty International has expressed concern about the publication of such data, calling it a “reckless move” that could risk fuelling racial division and spreading misinformation.
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Nigeria and Ghana were also among the 40 countries represented at the Government’s Organised Immigration Summit earlier this month. The summit aimed to foster international cooperation in the fight against people smuggling gangs and irregular migration.
International Development Minister Baroness Chapman emphasised the importance of global collaboration, stating: “Working with other countries and partners around the world is critical to tackling irregular migration. By working internationally, we will meet this global challenge together.”
The UK Government’s approach to handling illegal immigration continues to generate debate. While ministers argue that the measures are necessary to protect national security and restore control over the country’s borders, critics maintain that the policies may disproportionately target vulnerable groups, including asylum seekers, and lead to human rights violations. The ongoing challenge of balancing immigration control with human rights concerns remains at the heart of the political discussion.
